Houston SPCA Animal Response Hotline is activated

As of 12:00 PM Central Time, September 12, the Houston SPCA had activated its Animal Response Hotline. Operators will be accepting lost and found reports, rescue reports, and offering other animal-related information. The Animal Response Disaster Hotline, pictured at right, will be staffed Friday from noon to 6 PM, and 10 AM to 6 PM on following days. Call notes are available so those who call in after hours may leave a message which will be returned first thing the next morning. The TOLL FREE NUMBER is 877-661-0161 or 713-861-0161.

(Read more about the Houston SPCA Animal Response Hotline and rescue efforts after the jump.)

The Houston SPCA is also assisting coastal shelters who were forced to
evacuate. They have accepted 82 animals from the Galveston Island
Humane Society, 55 from the Brazoria County SPCA, and 100 from the Bay
Area SPCA. The Houston SPCA is working with adoption and coalition
partners around the state of Texas who agreed to accept more than 200
of our adorable adoptables. These animals were transported to partner
shelters and will be placed in their adoption programs. This frees up
space at the Houston SPCA shelter for animal refugees and storm victims.

Animal
rescuers from around the country including the Humane Society of
Missouri, Denver Dumb Friends League, LASPCA from Los Angeles, Code 3
and SAWA are responding with experienced animal rescuers, swift water
technicians and animal care staff to assist the Houston SPCA with
disaster relief, rescue and recovery. (At right, one of Ike’s refugees at the Houston SPCA.)

In addition, the Houston SPCA Cruelty Investigators and the animal rescue technicians and teams will be responding to rescues and requests for assistance once the storm has passed and it is safe. They are equipped to handle water and land rescues. The Houston SPCA is the lead animal welfare agency in the Gulf Coast Region to respond to disasters. For additional information or to assist in rescue and recovery efforts, please go to http://www.houstonspca.org.